Hand-truck



(No Model.)

J. S. NELSON.

HAND TRUCK.

No. 300,496 Patented June 1'7, 1884.

gaes,

UNITED STATES Pan-:Nr

JAMES S. NELSON, OF SPRINGFIED, OHIO.

HAND-TRUCK.

SPECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 300,496, dated June1'7, 1884.

Application filed March 19, 1884. (No model.)

Be it known that I, JAMns S. NnLsoN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Springfield, Clark county, and State of Ohio, have inventednew and useful Improvements in Hand-Trucks, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention consists in the combination, with a haggage-truck, ofdevices by which it may he easily and quickly converted into astep-ladder, the attachments whereby the double function is effectedbeing` so constructed and combined with the truck that they shall notimpair itsusefulness nor add materially to its cost.

It also consists in the combination` with the truck-frame, offenders,whereby the Wheels are so far covered that luggage carried uponthe truck will n'ot come in contact therewith, and which serve to give abroad base of support to the structure when the same is used as astepladder.

My invention finally consists in the peculiar construction of thedevices forlocking the supporting-frame in place, and in the severalfeatures of mechanical construction and combinations of partshereinafter fully set forth, and definitely pointed out in the claims.

. Referring` to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspeetive view showing myinvention in position for use as a step-ladder. Fig. 2 is a perspectiveview showing the supporting-frame folded upon the truck-frame. Fig. 3 isa side elevatiou of the end of the supporting-bar, showing the manner ofmounting the Wheels. Fig. -i is a detail perspective of a portion of theside rail of the truck-frame, showing the construction of the stop bywhich the spread of the supporting-legs is limited. Fig. '5 is aperspective showing a modification of the device illustrated inFig. 4.

In the drawings, the reference-number 1 indicates the truck-frame,having side bars, 2 2, terminating in handles 3 3. Upon the forward endof this frame is mounted the shovel 4, which is of the usualconstruction. The side bars, 2, are in the trueks in common useconnected by rounds 5, and these may or may not be employed iu myinvention hut in either case steps 6 are mounted upon said bars,whiehmay not only serve to connect and brace the frame, but also serve thefurther purpose of Steps. Near the handle end of the truck-frame I pivota supporting-frame, 7, consisting of legs or bars S, having`substanti'al parallelism with the side bars of the truck-frame 1. Uponthe lower end of these hars I mount the truckwheels 9, their journalsprojecting outside the bars 8,' while the aXle is asingle shaft runningtransversely across the lower end of the supporting-frame 7 andconeealed within a sleeve, 10. The construction of the parts is suchthat when the frame 7 is folded upon the truckframe the bars 8 will lieoutside and adjacent to the side bars of the truck, hriuging the Wheelsbeneath its forward end, in the manner shown in Fig. 2. Upon the sidebars of the `truelgand covering the pivoted end of the supporting-frame7, I place a metallic hood, 11. (Shownin detail in Pig. 4.) This hoodconsists of a A-shaped plate having its converging sides fiangedinwardly, as shown at 12, and

provided with a'g'rooved braeket, 13, arranged transversely. Thepivot-bolt 14 of the legs S passes throughthe upper part of this head,and it is so fastened to the truck-frame that it is rigid thereon. Oneof the fianged sides 12 is fiush with the side rail of the truck; and itwill be seen that as the supporting frame 7 is opened its spread will belimited by the other diverging fiange. This affords a stop for theleg-frame. The braclret 13 projects inside the side hars of thetruck-frame, and its groove receives the end of the upper step mountedupon said rails, giving additional support to it, and at the same timesupporting` the hood against the leverage of the extended leg-frame.

By reference to Fig. 8 it will be seen that the lower ends of the legs 8are rounded at the point 16, and the wheel-journal is located so farfrom the extremity that when in a Vertical or nearly Vertical positionthe wheel is raised out of contact. This gives the leg a firm bearingand avoids the danger and inconvenience which might result from having amere rolling support. Upon the side hars of the truck, near theirforward ends, I mount fenders 17, which proj ect over the Wheels, give amore extended support to luggage carried by the truck, and -prevent theWheels from coming IGG in contact therewith, whereby their movementwould be impeded and the baggage marred and inj ured. These fenders alsoserve the purpose of giving a broad base of support to the truckframeWhen the same 'is used as a step-ladder, as shown in Fig. 1, wherebyswaying or side movement of any kind is effectually prevented; a Insteadof using the hood 11, I may employ a bar or plate, 18, which is boltedto the rear edge of the side bar, 2, of the truck-frame, and having anarm, 19, bent rearwardly and at right angles, or thereabout,with the baror plate 18. At the end of this arm is an arm or stop, 20, which projects laterally into the pathv the bars 8 of the supporting-frame I placea strong transverse brace, 22, tenoned into the bars just over thesleeve 10. This brace supports the truck-framewhen the parts are foldedtogether, as shown in Fig. 2.

It should be noted, also, that the stops 6, although shown as beingmounted upon the truck-frame 1, may be placed upon the supporting-frame7, thus reversing the relative functions of these parts.

By this invention I provide a light, convenient, strong, andcomparatively cheap structure, which is capable of the double use forwhich it is intended.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim isi' 1. Thecombination, with a truck-frame, of

legs or supporting-bars pivoted to the truckframe near the handles, andhaving the Wheels j journaled near their opposite ends, anda stop forlimiting the spread of the supporting-bars, `substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a truck, of a pivoted supporting-frame, in thefree end of which the truck-Wheels are journaled, Whereby the device maybe used either as a truck or as a step-ladder, substantially asdescribed.

4. The combination, With the truck-frame., of a stop for limiting themovement of the pivoted supporting-frame, said stop being provided witha groove or recess to receive and support the end of described.

5. The combination, with a truck-frame, of a pivoted supporting-framecarrying the truck- Wheels and fenders extending over said Wheels,substantially as described.

6. The combination, with a truck-frame, of a pivoted supportingframehaving its free ends rounded or curved at an angle, and truck- Wheelsjournaled in said supporting-frame, the distance between their axis andthe end of the support being greater than the radius of the wheel,whereby Vplacing the end of the bar upon the floor will remove theWheels from contact, substantially as described.

7. The combination, in a hand baggage-truck, of a supporting-frame and awheeled frame, the two frames pivoted together at or near one end, andone of the frames provided with Steps to produce a combined baggagetruck and step-ladder, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

JAMEs s'. NnLsoN.

Vitnesses:

J'MEs L. NoRRIs, J. A. RUTHERFORD.

the step, substantially as'

